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A podcast about baseball, music and culture.

Hooks & Runs

A Baseball , Sports and Music podcast

#55 in Baseball · 🇮🇹
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About the show

Hooks & Runs is a podcast about baseball, music and culture. Our podcast includes interviews with news makers in the sports and music world plus commentary from the co-hosts on interesting current and historical events. Hooks & Runs releases a new episodes every Thursday (more or less).

Newest episodes

304 - Texans in the Hall: Nolan Ryan (We'll Meet Again)

49 min

This episode marks the end of not just the Texans in the Hall series but also the podcast, at least for now, says Rex. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. Nolan Ryan is a living legend with 324 career wins, 5,714 career strikeouts, 7 career no-hitters and enough stories to fill volumes. He closes the series. The podcast will remain archived at a minimum through the end of 2027, so you have time to go back and listen to episodes you missed. And by all means, stay subscribed because against, as Rex says, you never know. The Texans in the Hall series: 298 - Texans in the Hall: Louis Santop and Biz Mackey w/ Thomas Kern 285 - Texans in the Hall: Tris Speaker 280 - Texans in the Hall: Joe Williams, Andy Cooper and Hilton Smith w/ Thomas Kern 264 - Texans in the Hall: Joe Morgan 262 - Rube and Bill Foster: Texans in the Hall 259 - Texans in the Hall: Eddie Mathews 254 - Frank Robinson is Underrated (Texans in the Hall) 248 - Ernie Banks: Absurdly Simple & Impossibly Complex (Texans in the Hall) w/ Doug Wilson 247 - "A Stranger Among His Own Kind:" Rogers Hornsby (Texans in the Hall) 240 - Texans in the Hall: Greg Maddux, plus, Arenado, Rose, Golden State Entertainment and Tales of the Tape 235 - Texans in the Hall: Ross Youngs w/ David King 229 - Texans in the Hall: Willie Wells, "El Diablo," Was Ahead of His Time w/ Dr. Bob Luke THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if available), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    w...

303 - Bob Dylan Comes to Town: Dylan in Cincinnati w/ Graley Herren

1 hr 5 min

Dr. Graley Herren is Professor of English at Xavier University and author of the new book, Dylan in Cincinnati (University Press of Mississippi, September 2026). He joins us this week to talk about the book and all things Bob Dylan. Dr. Herren at Xavier: https://tinyurl.com/herrenxavier Dr. Herren's Substack, Shadow Chasing: https://substack.com/@shadowchasing Dr. Herren is on the editorial board of The Dylan Review: https://thedylanreview.org/ Dylan in Cincinnati at the University Press of Cincinnati: https://tinyurl.com/upressdylan Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if available), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

302 - Never Enough Versions, Labor Wars and the First Immaculate Inning

29 min

Rex and Craig discuss the Grammy Award winning rock band Turnstile, released "Never Enough: Versions," remaking their most recent album "Never Enough" in collaboration with artists as diverse as Angel Du$t, Hayley Williams, and Shabaka.  Also, a look at the MLB team owners unserious proposal for the new collective bargaining agreement plus revisiting the first ever immaculate inning. Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if available), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

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All episodes

The newest 50 of 256 episodes

304 - Texans in the Hall: Nolan Ryan (We'll Meet Again)

49 min

This episode marks the end of not just the Texans in the Hall series but also the podcast, at least for now, says Rex. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. Nolan Ryan is a living legend with 324 career wins, 5,714 career strikeouts, 7 career no-hitters and enough stories to fill volumes. He closes the series. The podcast will remain archived at a minimum through the end of 2027, so you have time to go back and listen to episodes you missed. And by all means, stay subscribed because against, as Rex says, you never know. The Texans in the Hall series: 298 - Texans in the Hall: Louis Santop and Biz Mackey w/ Thomas Kern 285 - Texans in the Hall: Tris Speaker 280 - Texans in the Hall: Joe Williams, Andy Cooper and Hilton Smith w/ Thomas Kern 264 - Texans in the Hall: Joe Morgan 262 - Rube and Bill Foster: Texans in the Hall 259 - Texans in the Hall: Eddie Mathews 254 - Frank Robinson is Underrated (Texans in the Hall) 248 - Ernie Banks: Absurdly Simple & Impossibly Complex (Texans in the Hall) w/ Doug Wilson 247 - "A Stranger Among His Own Kind:" Rogers Hornsby (Texans in the Hall) 240 - Texans in the Hall: Greg Maddux, plus, Arenado, Rose, Golden State Entertainment and Tales of the Tape 235 - Texans in the Hall: Ross Youngs w/ David King 229 - Texans in the Hall: Willie Wells, "El Diablo," Was Ahead of His Time w/ Dr. Bob Luke THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if available), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    w...

303 - Bob Dylan Comes to Town: Dylan in Cincinnati w/ Graley Herren

1 hr 5 min

Dr. Graley Herren is Professor of English at Xavier University and author of the new book, Dylan in Cincinnati (University Press of Mississippi, September 2026). He joins us this week to talk about the book and all things Bob Dylan. Dr. Herren at Xavier: https://tinyurl.com/herrenxavier Dr. Herren's Substack, Shadow Chasing: https://substack.com/@shadowchasing Dr. Herren is on the editorial board of The Dylan Review: https://thedylanreview.org/ Dylan in Cincinnati at the University Press of Cincinnati: https://tinyurl.com/upressdylan Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if available), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

302 - Never Enough Versions, Labor Wars and the First Immaculate Inning

29 min

Rex and Craig discuss the Grammy Award winning rock band Turnstile, released "Never Enough: Versions," remaking their most recent album "Never Enough" in collaboration with artists as diverse as Angel Du$t, Hayley Williams, and Shabaka.  Also, a look at the MLB team owners unserious proposal for the new collective bargaining agreement plus revisiting the first ever immaculate inning. Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if available), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

301 - Celebrity Deaths, Kyle Tucker, George van Haltren, MTV Ridiculousness, and Baseball Cards

41 min

It's all in the title. Errata: This episode is late arriving - since recording and through September 5, Baez is 13-74 (.176) with 4 home runs and 27 strikeouts in 74 innings since hitting the historic three home runs. Kyle Tucker slashed .195/.293/,310 in August and in 5 game is slashing .133/.333/.333 in September. Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if available), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

300 - Take This Job and Shove It.

44 min

Craig and Rex take on the big issues of the day for episode number 300 - Joshua Baez's historic debut, Ritchie Blackmore's return to Deep Purple (for one song), Tommy John's passing causes reassessment of his Hall of Fame Credentials, and John Paycheck (Johnny's son) is a nepo-baby we can support. Errata: Yes, we know Roger Clemens (354 career wins) is not in the Hall of Fame, but unlike Tommy John, Clemens' exclusion is not on the merits. Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if available), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

299 - The Al Rosen Phenomenon: That One Glorious Season (or Two)

59 min

This week Craig and Rex take a look at players that led their league in home runs after 1920 but hit less than 200 career home runs. The list includes one Hall of Famer (George Kelly), some that came close (Jake Daubert) and some that leave all but the most fervent fans scrambling to Baseball Reference (Nick Etten).  Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if available), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

298 - Texans in the Hall: Louis Santop and Biz Mackey w/ Thomas Kern

55 min

This week we resume our series Texans in the Hall by looking at the lives and careers of two great Texan ballplayers - Louis Santop and Biz Mackey. Santop and Mackey were both born in the Texas in the late 19th Century and represent two of the four former Negro League catchers inducted into the Hall of Fame.  Our guest is Thomas Kern, a contributor to ¡Arriba!: The Heroic Life of Roberto Clemente (SABR 2022), and co-editor to The Negro Leagues’ 1931 Homestead Grays: The Color of Greatness (SABR 2026).  He is also a frequent contributor to the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) biography project. Kern's expertise in Negro League history brings a unique perspective and depth to the discussion. Episodes Discussed: 280 - Texans in the Hall: Joe Williams, Andy Cooper and Hilton Smith w/ Thomas Kern; 107 - Bert Shepard, Lou Brissie & Baseball During World War II; 106 - Baseball Rebels w/ Professor Peter Dreier. Texans in the Hall Series: 285 - Texans in the Hall: Tris Speaker 280 - Texans in the Hall: Joe Williams, Andy Cooper and Hilton Smith w/ Thomas Kern 264 - Texans in the Hall: Joe Morgan 262 - Rube and Bill Foster: Texans in the Hall 259 - Texans in the Hall: Eddie Mathews 254 - Frank Robinson is Underrated (Texans in the Hall) 248 - Ernie Banks: Absurdly Simple & Impossibly Complex (Texans in the Hall) w/ Doug Wilson 247 - "A Stranger Among His Own Kind:" Rogers Hornsby (Texans in the Hall) 240 - Texans in the Hall: Greg Maddux, plus, Arenado, Rose, Golden State Entertainment and Tales of the Tape 235 - Texans in the Hall: Ross Youngs w/ David King 229 - Texans in the Hall: Willie Wells, "El Diablo," Was Ahead of His Time w/ Dr. Bob Luke Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if available), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky...

297 - Baseball on the South Side After the Black Sox, 1920-26 w/ Bruce S. Allardice

1 hr 3 min

Bruce S. Allardice joins us this week to discuss the Chicago White Sox in the years immediately after the Black Sox scandal that tainted the 1919 World Series. Allardice is the author of After the Black Sox: The Chicago White Sox in Transition, 1920-1926 (McFarland Press 2026). The discussion covers the World Series scandal, the players involved, the "Clean Sox" - players like Dickie Kerr and Eddie Collins that were not involved in the fix, and the White Sox in the years that follow the team being decimated by the lifetime suspensions. Bruce S. Allardice's web page: http://civilwarbruce.com/ After the Black Sox at McFarland Press: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/after-the-black-sox/ Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if available), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

296 - The 9-Online Virtual Baseball Conference w/ Willie Steele plus We Don't Like AI Music

43 min

Professor Willie Steele (Lipscomb) joins us this week to discuss the forthcoming 9-Online Virtual Baseball Conference. Steele is a conference co-director and past editor of NINE: A Journal of Baseball History & Culture. Steele is also an expert on the works of W. P. Kinsella ("Shoeless Joe") so naturally, the conversation veered that direction. Also this episode, some thoughts on AI music and the return of vinyl. Willie Steele at Lipscomb: https://lipscomb.edu/directory/steele-willie Willie Steele on Bluesky: https://tinyurl.com/wsteele071926 The 9-Online Conference: https://nine-baseball.com/9-online/ NINE Journal: https://tinyurl.com/nine071926 Chapter Two sources: Rowan Davies, "Deezer says nearly half of all new music uploaded to its site is AI generated - and it's calling on Spotify and other streaming giants to do more about it," (techradar.com/April 20, 2026); Colin Toh, "The CD Comeback Story Crashes While Vinyl Hits $1B Because of One Brutal Reality Check," (headphonesty.com/March 19, 2026). Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if available), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

295 - Baseball Back in the Day w/ John Ferling

1 hr 3 min

Professor John Ferling (University of West Georgia) joins the podcast this week to talk about his new book, Baseball As It Was: Building Champions Before Free Agency Changed Everything (Tatra Press, May 2026). The book examines the period 1946-1957, the years after World War II, with particular focus on the Cleveland Indians and the Boston, and later the Milwaukee Braves. John Ferling, Ph.D. - http://johnferling.com/ Baseball As It Was at Tatra Press - https://tinyurl.com/asitwas071226 Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if available), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

294 - Castle Rat, Truth About Ruth, Portland vs SLC, and Remembering LaSalle's Vacay to our County

34 min

This week on Hooks & Runs, the theatrical doom metal quartet Castle Rat gets a major article in Spin, Craig wanders into more Astro sign stealing controversy on social media, the truth about (Babe) Ruth (in 1922), Portland vs Salt Lake City as an expansion candidate, and remembering René-Robert La Salle's vacation to our home county. Source: Steve Appleford, "Castle Rat Brings to Life a Mythic World of Ancient Heroes and Villains," Spin Magazine (June 29, 2026) (https://tinyurl.com/hooks07052026). Errata - On further review it seem Craig pronounced "La Salle" correctly the first time. Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if available), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

293 - Chicago, 1933: A Look at MLB's First All-Star Game w/ Randall Sullivan

48 min

Randall Sullivan, former contributing editor to Rolling Stone and author of The Price of Experience, and Untouchable, joins Hooks & Runs this week to discuss his latest book, The First All-Star Game: Babe Ruth, FDR and America at the Crossroads (Grove Atlantic, June 2026). The First All-Star Game chronicles a defining moment for both baseball and the nation, weaving together the sport's early lively ball history with the Jazz Age and subsequent Great Depression that gave rise to it.  Randall Sullivan at Grove Atlantic. Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if available), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

292 - College Sports is Looking a Lot Like 19th Century Baseball w/ John A. Fortunato

53 min

Between players jumping contracts and entangling themselves in gambling scandals; the lack of a clear, consistent enforcement authority and conference (league) realignments, one could easily confuse current state of the NCAA with the chaotic state of 19th Century baseball. This week, John A. Fortunato joins us to make sense of college sports today. Fortunato is a professor of communications and media management at Fordham University's Gabelli School of Business. His research interests include sports, broadcasting & communication and public relations. He comments on a wide range of topics, including name, image & likeness; the Brendan Sorsby and Darian Mensah controversies, the increasingly toothless NCAA enforcement arm, and whether or not Congress has the power to bring order to the anarchy.  Professor Fortunato at Fordham John Fortunato, An Ethical Application to Student-Athlete Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), Journal of Intercollegiate Sport. Errata: The University of Houston played Idaho, not an Ivy League school, in March Madness's first round in 2026 - you'd think a "basketball junkie" would remember that. Wagner beat Maryland-Eastern Shore 78-64 on December 17, 2025, with 350 patrons in attendance. Rose Hill Gym was built in 1925 - it is the oldest Division I gymnasium still in regular use, now that Northeastern University's Matthews Arena is being demolished.  Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if available), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by...

291 - Charlie Ferguson: "A Great Forgotten Star of the 19th Century" w/ Paul Hofmann

50 min

Chapter 1 - Paul Hofmann, Ph.D., Associate Provost for International Affairs at the University of Louisville and Society for American Baseball Research member, joins us this week to discuss Charlie Ferguson, a forgotten 19th Century baseball star. Ferguson played four seasons in his early 20s with the Philadelphia Quakers (now, Phillies) in the National League and by 1887, Ferguson's final season, he emerged as a rising two-way star, excelling both at the plate (.337 average) and on the mound (99 wins over 4 seasons).  Ferguson died from typhoid fever in April 1888 after a month-long battle with the illness. He had turned 25 years old just two weeks prior. Ferguson was regarded at the time and for many years after as one of the greatest players in baseball history. Chapter 2 - Another gambling scandal, only not in professional baseball. "Charlie Ferguson," by Paul Hofmann, at https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Charlie-Ferguson/ (accessed June 9, 2026). Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if available), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

290 - Baseball's First Worst to First: the 1890 Louisville Cyclones w/ Perry T. Cooper

52 min

Author Perry T. Cooper is our guest this week. Cooper's new book, "The 1890 Louisville Cyclones: Major League Baseball's Original Worst-to-First Team" (McFarland, March 2026). Louisville finished the 1889 American Association season with 27 wins, 111 losses, the first Major League team to lose 100 games during a campaign. Under new manager Jack Chapman, Louisville rebounded in 1890 to first place in the AA and an 88-44 record.  Cooper regales listeners in this interview with stories about the characters on this team and the untamed baseball world in the 1890s.  The 1890 Louisville Cyclones at McFarland Press. https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/the-1890-louisville-cyclones/ Find the book at most online retailers - the book is not presently available in physical form at Bookshop.org, but can be purchased as an ebook there. Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if available), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

289 - The Battle of the Ratts: On Wander Franco, Shohei Ohtani, Avatar Ozzy, New Music and More

47 min

This week it's Rex and Craig musing over baseball and music news of the day including: Wander Franco's legal troubles are not over;Shohei Ohtani's amazing year;Fernando Tatis, Jr.'s power outage;NL Central excellence;the Tampa Bay Rays are at it again;the trouble with Minor League BaseballThe age of Avatar Ozzy; andFavorite first quarter 2026 albums.Sources: Sha Be Allah, "SOURCE SPORTS: Immigration Experts Believe Wander Franco’s Big League Career Is Finished Despite Dodging Prison," thesource.com, May 27, 2026; Jake Mintz, "What a 29-2 score says about the state of low-level minor-league baseball — and why MLB fans should care," sports.yahoo.com, May 25, 2026; Kory Grow, "Ozzy Osbourne to come back as digital avatar, answer your questions," Rolling Stone (via msn.com), May 22, 2026. Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

288 - Baseball and Busing in 1970s Boston w/ David Faflik

1 hr 1 min

David Faflik, a Professor in the Department of English at the University of Rhode Island has a new book titled "Segregation Games: Boston, Busing, and the Making of Red Sox Nation" (Univ. of Massachusetts Press 2026).  The book examines the "surprising ties in 1970s Boston between the racial segregation of the city’s schools and the racial controversies expressed on and off the field of 'Red Sox Nation.'"  David Faflik's faculty page at URI. https://web.uri.edu/english/meet/david-faflik/ "Segregation Games" at UMass Press https://www.umasspress.com/9781625349286/segregation-games/ Episodes referenced: Episode 45A: "Shavermetrics w/ Scott Russell and Bill 'Spaceman' Lee (Radio Edit)" Errata: Sam Jethroe was the first African American player to take the field for the Boston Braves - he did so on April 18, 1950. The Boston Braves signed Henry Aaron on June 14, 1952, by outbidding the New York Giants by $50.00 a month.  Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

287: An Historic 24 Innings in Boston w/ John McMurray plus Blue Dot Fever Hits the Music World

56 min

Our guest for Chapter 1 is John McMurray, chair of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR)'s Deadball Era Research Committee. His essay, "September 1, 1906: A Pivotal Game Early in the Deadball Era," appeared in the Committee's newsletter, "The Inside Game," earlier this year.  The game between the Philadelphia A's and the home team Boston Americans (now Red Sox) lasted 24 innings with the A's winning 4-1. The game featured many deadball era baseball features including speed, defense, strategy, moving the runners, crowd participation and heroic pitching with each starter pitching complete games in this marathon contest.  McMurray paints a vivid picture of deadball era baseball at the turn of the last century by walking us through this amazing ballgame.  In Chapter 2, Craig and Rex discuss blue dot fever that is causing artists in the pop music business to cancel shows and entire tours this summer. Join the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) here: https://sabr.org/community This is a cbc.com story on the Live Nation Lawsuit discussed in Chapter Two: https://www.cbc.ca/news/investigates/live-nation-executive-exclusive-9.7191295 Episodes featured: 220 - In an Instant It Was All Gone: The Ray Chapman Story w/ Scott H. Longert; Ep. 72 - Seeing the World Through Baseball w/ Cousin Wolf (Matt Halvorson). Errata: Craig mistakenly referenced the 1915 A's as one of Connie Mack's better teams -- that A's team finished 43-109, following one of Mack's sell-offs. The A's won 4 AL pennants and 3 World Series titles from 1910 to 1914. Vic Willis, a Hall of Famer, lost 29 games pitching for the 51-103 Boston Nationals in 1905, not 26 games. Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social...

286 - The Magical 1926 St. Louis Cardinals w/ Kevin J. Abing

52 min

Author and historian Kevin J. Abing is our guest this week to talk about the 1926 St. Louis Cardinals, on the 100th Anniversary of the team's first World Series championships.  Abing is author of "Baseball Magic and Mayhem in St. Louis: The 1926 Cardinals, World Series Champions" (McFarland Press, 2026). Abing's meticulously researched book tells the story of the Cardinal's rise from National League doormat to dominance and the team's magical 1926 season. Previous episodes discussed are No. 189, "Baseball, Chemical Warfare and the Great War w/ Jim Leeke; and No. 247, "'A Stranger Among His Own Kind," Rogers Hornsby: Texans in the Hall." Abing's book at McFarland Press: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/baseball-magic-and-mayhem-in-st-louis/ Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

285 - Texans in the Hall: Tris Speaker

35 min

Hooks & Runs returns to weekly episodes with this continuation of our series "Texans in the Hall." This entry examines the career of Tris Speaker, who played 22 years in the Majors hitting .345 with over 3,500 hits and a record 792 career doubles. He also re-wrote the book on how to play center field. Speaker was born and is buried in Hubbard, Texas in Hill County. In part 2, another baseball card draw that includes a should be Hall of Famer and one of baseballs colorful knuckleballers. Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

Talking Kansas City: Baseball, BBQ and Ballparks w/ Mike Czerniewski

46 min

Mike Czerniewski, host of This Podcast Is ... Uncalled For, joins us this week to talk about Kansas City baseball history - the Monarchs, the A's and the Royals, along with Kansas City BBQ and new digs for the Royals. Check out our episodes 280, "Texans in the Hall: Joe Williams, Andy Cooper and Hilton Smith w/ Thomas Kern," and 262, "Rube and Bill Foster: Texans in the Hall," for stories about players that played for and against the Kansas City Monarchs. This Podcast Is... Uncalled For on Apple Podcasts Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

Musings from the Bleacher Seats: Ballparks and America's Pastime w/ Seth S. Tannenbaum (283)

47 min

Seth S. Tannenbaum, Ph.D. is assistant professor of sports studies at Manhattanville University and author of Bleacher Seats and Luxury Suites: Democracy and Division at the Twentieth-Century Ballpark (University of Illinois Press 2026).  The book speaks to the fan experience at Major League Baseball games in the twentieth century and examines changing understandings of urban space, inclusion, and democracy in the U.S. Seth Tannenbaum's webpage (with discount code for Bleacher Seats). https://sethtannenbaum.com/research-description/ Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

282 - On Baseball's First Superstar w/ Thomas W. Gilbert

42 min

Our guest this episode is Thomas W. Gilbert. His new book, "Death in the Strike Zone: The Mystery of America's First Baseball Hero" (David R. Godine, 2026), is the story of James Creighton, a young pitcher who pitched for amateur clubs in Brooklyn and is credited for inventing modern pitching.  Gilbert's book is not only about Creighton's exploits on the field, but about the life and times of baseball in its earliest years - before the Civil War, before industrialization and before the game was played by professionals.  Creighton died in October 1862 at age 21. Thomas W. Gilbert's website - howbaseballhappened.com. Death in the Strike Zone, publisher's site (https://tinyurl.com/hooks032526) In this episode we mentioned our Episode 238 - Artie Shaw's Nightmare: The Big Band Sound Goes to War w/ Michael Doyle. Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

281 - "A Most Dramatic Diamond Struggle"

48 min

On July 10, 1932, after playing 3 double headers in 3 days, Connie Mack's Philadelphia A's faced the Cleveland Indians at Cleveland's League Park. Craziness ensued. The game and players set records that have never been, and are unlikely to be, broken or even approached.  This is the story of that game. We discuss our sources after the outro music. Errata: The opening game at Cleveland Stadium was July 31, 1932, not July 21st. Connie Mack was ejected from one game as manager - September 6, 1895, at the Polo Grounds in New York, while manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

280 - Texans in the Hall: Joe Williams, Andy Cooper and Hilton Smith w/ Thomas Kern

1 hr 4 min

Pennsylvania native Thomas Kern has been a Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) member for over 40 years and has several biographical essays about Negro League stars during that time. Thomas joins us this episode to resume our series, "Texans in the Hall" to talk about three great Texas-born pitchers - Joe Williams, Andy Cooper and Hilton Smith. Kern introduces us to all three Texans, from their beginnings in rural Texas to the Texas amateur circuit to the Major Leagues in the Negro American or National League in the 1920s, 30s and beyond.  Thomas Kern on SABR - https://sabr.org/authors/thomas-kern/ Joe Williams at Baseball Reference; Andy Cooper at Baseball Reference; Hilton Smith at Baseball Reference. Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns  Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

279 Five future generals and 1915 Army baseball w/ Dr. Stephen V. Rice, plus Ferris Fain was a gangster

52 min

Dr. Stephen V. Rice joins us in the first chapter to talk about his recent article in the Baseball Research Journal, "The 1915 Army Baseball Team at West Point: Five Future Generals and an 18–3 Record." In the second chapter, a look at two-time American League batting champion Ferris Fain and his tragic post-career fall. We close the episode with a short concert review. Links: The Society for American Baseball Research - www.sabr.orgThe Fall 2025 Baseball Research Journal - https://tinyurl.com/brjf2025Listeners interested in previous episodes with stories about baseball, music, the military and war should search for episodes 238 (Artie Shaw and World War II), 205 (Bethlehem Steel League), 189 (Baseball players serving in the Chemical Warfare Unit), Episode 169 (Moe Berg was a spy), Episode 168 (Ted Williams and John Glenn), Episode 107 (Baseball players serving in World War II), and Episode 106 (Sam Nahim and the G.I. World Series). Our episode about Rube Waddell is No. 82. Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns  Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

278 -- The one and onlys, the Grammy Awards and Rex pulls a HOF rookie card!

1 hr 0 min

Craig and Rex marvel over things that have happened only once in MLB history, plus comments about the recent Grammy Awards and a baseball card pull. Errata - Pat Kelly never managed in the Major Leagues. There was only one José Vizcaíno in the Majors. Notes -Khaby Lame sold his likeness for $975 Million https://tappedinculture.substack.com/p/khaby-lame-sold-his-likeness-for Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns  Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

277 - Buried by History: the 1941 Philadelphia Phillies w/ Justin Klugh

40 min

Justin Klugh is author of the new book, "Summer of the Cheap Wieners: What the 1941 Phillies Were Up To While Joe DiMaggio Was Making History," (Brookline Books, 2026).  There are not too many books about teams that lose 111 out of 154 games, but here's one and it's a good one. Justin joins us this episode to discuss how the second division looks. Justin Klugh at Baseball Prospectus Consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns  Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

276 - Long Hours, Low Pay and Legendary Music w/ Rob Miller, co-founder of Bloodshot Records

42 min

 In this episode, we talk with Rob Miller, co-founder of Bloodshot Records and author of The Hours Were Long, but the Pay Was Low (3 Fields Books, 2025). Rob shares stories from the early days of building an influential indie label, the realities of DIY music culture, and what it really took to survive on passion, community, and very little money. It’s an honest, funny look at the long hours behind independent music—and why it was all worth it.  Rob is a Detroit native so of course we discussed Disco Demolition Night (Rob has an interesting angle as a Tiger fan) and why Lou Whitaker is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Rob Miller's website: https://www.robmillerwriting.com/ Rob on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robmillerwriting/ Rob Miller's Bloodshot playlist: https://tinyurl.com/Bloodshot011226 Please consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns  Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2026.

275 - Wolverines, Free Agents and the Hooks & Runs Best Albums of 2025

47 min

What's going on with Michigan football? Craig and Rex look at random baseball news. Also, the Hooks & Runs year-end music review, featuring our favorite albums of 2025. Please consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns  Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025.

274 - "I Thought I'd Given Up the Circus:" Baseball Promotions w/ Joseph Natalicchio

46 min

Joseph Natalicchio is the author of "Baseball's Most Outrageous Promotions: From Wedlock and Headlock Day to Disco Demolition Night" (McFarland 2025), released earlier in December. This is a wonderful book - we discuss everything from Disco Demolition Night to the night fans tore apart a ballpark while game played on to why baseball promotions have gotten so boring!  Joseph was a gracious guest and we hope you enjoy this chat. Here is the link to the book at McFarland (link above): https://tinyurl.com/promotions121125 ...or buy the book at the affiliate link below. Please consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns  Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025.

273 - Podcast News, Baseball Moves, Guns & Roses

33 min

Big news about the podcast, a look at some early baseball moves and Guns & Roses is going on tour.  Errata: The Houston Astros missed the playoffs twice since 2015 - in 2016 and in 2025 - not once. Nacagdoches is a town in East Texas, home of Stephen F. Austin University. Guns & Roses' record label was Geffen, not Sony. Please consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns  Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025.

272 - The Spirit of Radio w/ Dave South

51 min

Dave South was the radio voice of Texas A&M Athletics from 1985 to his retirement in 2018. He is the author of "You Saw Me on the Radio: Recollections and Favorite Calls as the Voice of Aggie Athletics" (Texas A&M Univ. Press 2019), which was released in paperback in August.  "You Saw Me on the Radio" at Texas A&M Univ. Press50s and 60s Rock & Roll with Dave South at KAMUMore about Wounded Warrior ProjectPlease consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns  Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025.

271 - Hard Caps, Soft Caps, Salary Floors and Baseball Cards

40 min

This week on the podcast - a bizarre ending to a high school football game, the soon to be expired Collective Bargaining Agreement has baseball fans scrambling to learn about salary caps, and we open another set of baseball cards. Errata: Greg Maddux finished his career with 355 wins. The pitchers named plus Warren Spahn and Kid Nichols had more. Tom Prince's "short career" lasted 17 manor league seasons, but Prince only played in 579 games. He managed in one game for the Pirates in 2019. Steve Lyons once famously slid into first base and to remove the dirt started removing his pants, until he remembered people were watching. Craig was thinking of Greg Harris, for some reason, of which there were two of which one (Greg A. Harris) was ambidextrous. Harris pitched both left and right handed in one game in 1995.  Please consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns  Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025.

270 - "Second Base? That's My Best Position!" w/ Trenidad Hubbard

49 min

Trenidad Hubbard played 10 Major League seasons in a 19-year professional baseball career. A Chicago native, Hubbard played college ball at Southern University, was drafted by Houston in the 12th round in 1986, and climbed through the ranks to make his Major League debut in 1993 with Colorado. We had a lot of laughs looking back on his career and were inspired by Trenidad's positive attitude and grateful spirit.  Trenidad's apparel company is GameFace USA.  He is affiliated with the Players' Alliance, The Hank Aaron Invitational and the annual HBCU Swingman Classic on All-Star weekend. Please consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns  Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025.

269 - Ralph Branca: Baseball's Everyman w/ Bob Mitchell

48 min

Bob Mitchell is a retired professor, award winning advertising creative and tennis teaching pro. He has published 13 books and countless essays and articles, including his most recent book, "Ralph Branca and the Meaning of Life" (McFarland Press 2025). Join us this episode as we take our time machine back to Coogan's Bluff, October 3, 1951, and the pitch that changed everything. (Branca was the Dodger pitcher that thew Giant outfielder Bobby Thomson the fateful pitch that Thomson hit into the bleachers for a walk-off three-run home run that put the Giants into the 1951 World Series). Bob Mitchell's website - https://www.bobmitchellbooks.com/home/ You can purchase "Ralph Branca and the Meaning of Life from the publisher, McFarland Press, from any boodstore or online book seller, or from our affiliate link at bookshop.org below. Please consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns  Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025.

268 - Baseball & Music w/ Bill Nowlin

1 hr 1 min

Bill Nowlin was a co-founder of Rounder Records in the early 1960s and is a co-founder of Down the Road Records. He most recently co-edited "Native American Major Leaguers," (Society for American Baseball Research, 2025), with  Rob Daugherty. Also this episode, MTV is closing it's music stations, Craig went to see Turnstile and our favorite records from the third quarter, 2025. Bill Nowlin: Down the Road Records https://www.downtheroadrecords.com/ "Native American Major Leaguers" at SABR https://sabr.org/latest/sabr-digital-library-native-american-major-leaguers/ Errata: The original name of the Cleveland Guardians was the Columbus Buckeyes in 1896. The Cleveland Blues were National League team from 1879 to 1884. The team was merged into the Brooklyn Greys in 1885. Episodes mentioned: 138 - Béisbol, Fiestas y Monster Dogs w/ Jesús Granados https://www.buzzsprout.com/875794/episodes/12208260 Please consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns  Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025.

267 - The 1971 Astros and the Art of What If w/ Samuel Barrett

53 min

Samuel Barrett is author of "Orange Crush: The Neglected 1971 Houston Astros" (Huntsville Independent Press 2025). Barrett examines the series of questionable player deals Houston GM Spec Richardson orchestrated during his tenure and attempts to undue the damage to show that with merely competent management, Houston's 1971 team may well have been something special indeed.  In this episode we mentioned our interview with Roger Metzger in episode 133. Please consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns  Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025.

266 - Benny Kauff: "An Apparent Injustice Has Been Done"

50 min

Ohio native Benny Kauff made his Major League debut in 1912. He jumped to the Federal League in 1914 where he emerged to stand among that circuit's best hitters.  After the Federal League folded, Kauff signed with John McGraw's New York Giants and claimed the team's center field position.  Kauff held that spot until a New York grand jury indicted him for grand larceny (car theft) after the 1919 season. Kauff, also burdened with gambling accusations, played just 55 games for New York in 1920 then was traded in early July to a minor league team. In May, 1921, a New York jury acquitted Kauff of the grand larceny charge, but the baseball never lifted Kauff's suspension during his life.  Kauff's is a wild tale about baseball, Tammany Hall justice, city life during the dead ball era, and a ballplayer that just maybe got a raw deal.  Sources: ( )  Gary Joseph Cieradkowski, "Benny Kauff: Stealing Bases and Automobiles," Cieradkowski at https://studiogaryc.com/2018/08/03/benny-kauff-stealing-bases-and-automobiles/ (last accessed October 11, 2025); (2) David Jones, "Benny Kauff," Society for American Baseball Research at https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/benny-kauff/ (last accessed October 11, 2025); (3) Dozens of newspapers articles accessed via newspapers.com and (4) Statistics were available via Baseball Reference, https://www.baseball-reference.com/. Errata: Benny Kauff suffered from diphtheria in March 2021, not Kennesaw Mountain Landis. Please consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns  Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebo...

265 - "They All Though I Was Crazy Anyway" w/ Scipio Spinks

52 min

Scipio Spinks rose from junior college ball in Chicago to the Major Leagues with Houston and St. Louis. He pitched 5 seasons before injuries derailed his promising career. Spinks talks about his pitching in the late 60s and early 70s, the wind at Candlestick, the heat at Busch and hitting his one and only home run as a big leaguer.  Today, Spinks resides in Houston where he is head coach for the University of Houston-Downtown Gator collegiate club baseball team. Spinks has coached the Gators to the NCBA World Series in Alton, Illinois twice. Episodes Featured:  133 - We Weren't Rained Out, We Were Rained In w/ Roger Metzger Errata: Stu Miller was the pitcher blown off the mound in the 1961 All-Star Game at Candlestick ... Jim Presley hit 19 home runs with 72 RBI with Atlanta in 1990 - he signed with the Padres and was released after hitting .136 in his first 20 games as a Padre ... Robby Thompson was caught stealing 4 times on June 27, 1986 - three were on blown hit and runs (Jeffrey Leonard) ...  Please consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns  Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025. 

264 - Texans in the Hall: Joe Morgan

51 min

Joe Morgan, a native of Bonham, Texas, a small town near the Oklahoma border, is generally regarded as baseball's greatest second basemen in the post-World War II era. Originally Colt-.45 then Astro, Houston traded him to Cincinnati after the 1971 season is perhaps Houston's most ill-fated (and bone-headed) trades. Morgan went on to win two Most Valuable Player Awards with the Big Red Machine. Also this episode - three coaches fired already in the NCAA FBS season, the Astros are on life support, the Padres clinch, festivals are faring no better than the Astros Episodes Mentioned this Week 133 - We Weren't Rained Out, We Were Rained In w/ Roger Metzger144 - Bill Virdon's Baseball Life w/ David Jerome & Shirley Virdon195 - Looking Back at Houston's 1963 All-Rookie Lineup232 - It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over: The 1973 New York Mets w/ Len Ferman, The Sports Time TravelerTM244 - Power Outage! The 1979 Houston Astros258 - "I Was a Kid Too Back Then" w/ Rick WisePlease consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns  Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025. 

263 - The Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker Gambling Scandal of 1926 w/ Dan Taylor

45 min

The fallout from the 1919 World Series gambling scandal rocked the baseball world when the affair broke into the public's view late in the 1920 season. Just when baseball emerged from that threat, two of baseball's biggest stars, Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker, found themselves immersed in betting scandal arising from a seemingly meaningless game late in the 1919 season. The scandal led to acrimony, finger-pointing and three major resignations. Ultimately, the two stars were cleared and they returned to baseball in 1927, but the reverberations were felt for years to come. Naturally, Babe Ruth figures in the story as well Dan Taylor, the voice of the Fresno Grizzlies, wrote "Baseball at the Abyss: The Scandals of 1926, Babe Ruth, and the Unlikely Savior Who Rescued a Tarnished Game" (Rowman & Littlefield 2023) about the scandal and the stars put under the spotlight. Taylor joins us this week to talk about gambling in baseball, which has emerged the last two seasons as an on-going challenge for the sport. Dan Taylor on Twitter (https://x.com/WritinGuy) Please consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns  Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025. 

262 - Rube and Bill Foster: Texans in the Hall

58 min

Andrew "Rube" and William "Bill" Foster were half-brothers born in Calvert, Texas, 25 years apart. Rube (b. 1879) left home in the late 90s to pitch for barnstorming teams deep into the late teens. He established his name as a top pitcher in the circuit as well as a savvy businessman. In 1920, he organized the Negro National League, the first and leading organized Black baseball league.  Bill (b. 1904) left the South in 1918 to look for work and play baseball and after catching on with the Memphis team in the NNL, eventually landed on his older brother's Chicago American Giants. He is regarded as the best left-handed pitcher in the Negro Leagues. He pitched the American Giants to titles in 1926 and 1927, then was the winning pitcher in the first East-West All-Star Game in 1933.  Both brothers were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame posthumously. Rube Foster on Seamheads, SABR Bill Foster on Seamheads, SABR Robert Charles Cottrell, "The Best Pitcher in Baseball: The Life of Rube Foster, Negro League Giant (New York University Press, 2004). Errata: Henry Mathewson had zero wins in his big league career, not one. Please consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns  Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025. 

261 - The Bill Bevens Story: As Close as you Can Get

54 min

Bill Bevens came within one out of throwing the first World Series no-hitter in Game 4.  Also, a look at the pennant and wild card races plus some 1988 Topps baseball cards. Errata: The Giants were 14-14 in August, 9-15 in July. In the second half so far, Texas is 24-19, Seattle is 22-21 and Houston is 20-23. San Diego went 23-43 after the All-Star Break in 2021 and for some reason Craig thinks they collapse like this every year. San Diego was 43-20 in the second half in 2024. Pete Reiser won the NL batting title in 1941, not 1945. Craig was thinking of Mickey Mahler when he should have been thinking of Mike Mason. Wade Boggs played 5 seasons for the Yankees before going to Tampa; he also admitted to drinking 73 beers on a flight, not 57. Clint Hurdle turned down a football scholarship to the University of Miami, but he turned it down to sign with the Royals.  Please consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns  Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025. 

260 - Bo Belinsky: Everything Has a Price w/ David Krell

44 min

David Krell is a returning guest and the author of "Bo Belinsky: The Rise, Fall and Rebound of a Playboy Pitcher," (McFarland & Co., 2025) the first full-length biography of Bo Belinsky.  David Krell's official website (https://www.davidkrell.com) David Krell's Twitter (https://x.com/davidkrell) Please consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns  Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025. 

259 - Texans in the Hall: Eddie Mathews

48 min

Eddie Mathews played 17 seasons in the big leagues and is the only player to play for the Braves in Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta. He hit 512 home runs in his career and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1978. This week Hooks & Runs continues its series, Texans in the Hall, by looking back at Mathews' career. Also this episode Shohei Ohtani's latest off-the-field skirmish; Mike Trout's decline, Guy Hecker's big day and Hooks & Runs' favorite release for the second quarter 2025. Eddie Mathews at baseball-reference.com Shohei Ohtani story (https://tinyurl.com/ohtanihooks) Guy Hecker's big day (https://tinyurl.com/guyhecker) Representative Sources: Guy Curtright, "A Brave in Three Cities," February 19, 2001, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, page 6.  Don Fleitz, "Eddie Mathews," https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/eddie-mathews/, last accessed August 14, 2025. Joe Heiling, "Mathews Happy Over Chances With Astros," January 1, 1967, Houston Post, page 18. Frank Hyland, "Aaron to Play? Check the Weather," Atlanta Journal-Constitution, April 6, 1974, page 13.  Wayne Minshew, "Kuhn Edict Still Angers Mathews," Atlanta Journal-Constitution, April 1, 1974, page 26.  Joe Reichler, "Spahn Pitches Distance in 7-5 Thiller," October 7, 1957, Janesville Weekly Gazette, page 12. John Wilson, "Astros Acquire Eddie Mathews," January 1, 1967, Houston Chronicle, page 21. John Wilson, "Astros Trade Ed Mathews to Detroit," August 18, 1967, Houston Chronicle. Dick Young "Braves Cop, 7-5, in 10; Tie Series," New York Daily News, page 48. Statistics, box scores and more at https://www.baseball-reference.com/. This is Turnstile's song "Seein' Stars," from their 2025 album "Never Enough." Errata: In 1999, there were 9 future Hall of Famers on the Hall of Fame ballot, not 4. Please consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns  Hooks & Runs - https:...

258 - "I Was a Kid Too Back Then" w/ Rick Wise

53 min

Rick Wise pitched 18 seasons in the big league, beginning with is rookie year for the 1964 Philadelphia Phillies. He won 188 games in that span and achieved some notable milestones, including becoming the only pitcher in Major League history to pitch a no-hitter and hit 2 home runs in the same game. Wise was also the winning pitcher in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series - considered by many to be among the greatest World Series games ever played. Rick joins Hooks & Runs this week to reflect on his long baseball career. Rick Wise at baseball-reference.com (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wiseri01.shtml) Rick Wise bio at SABR.com (https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/rick-wise/) Errata - Rick allowed runs at old Sportsman's Park in 1964, but he did not allow any earned runs. The first night game in MLB history was in Houston in 1963, not 1962. Bernie Carbo and Dwight Evans hit home runs in Game 3 of the '75 World Series, not Game 6. Please consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns  Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025.     

257 - MLB's Microbet Investigation Snares an All-Star.

1 hr 3 min

Colorado of all teams highlights the week with a wild come-from-behind win at home against Pittsburgh. Hooks & Runs' favorite teams made big splashes at the trade deadline. MLB's microbets investigation snares Cleveland All-Star pitcher Emmanuel Clase - lockers have been cleared out, so this looks serious. Where are they now? Hooks & Runs follows up on the players suspended in last year's gambling scandal. The TV Dolls, Loose Helmet, Ozzy's funeral and "I've Got the Music in Me" closes. Errata: It's Leo De Vries, not Luis. We're sure there are others. Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025.    

256 - Southwest Conference Baseball w/ Bo Carter

48 min

Bo Carter is the Executive Director for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and an inductee into the College Sports Communicators Hall of Fame. He was media relations director for the Southwest Conference (SWC) and Big 12 Conference for a combined 22 years. His essay, "Southwest Conference Baseball HIstory," was appears in The National Pastime: Baseball in Texas and Beyond (Society of American Baseball Research (SABR), 2005). Carter has been a SABR member since 1993.  Bo Carter on SABR - https://sabr.org/authors/bo-carter/ "Southwest Conference Baseball History" - https://sabr.org/journal/article/southwest-conference-baseball-history/ National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association - https://www.sportswriters.net/ncbwa/ Errata: On further review, Southwestern's Curt Walker was not the first former SWC player to reach the majors, though he was the first to enjoy a substantial MLB career. Maybe that's for another episode?  Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025.   

255 - Major League Baseball Needs to Think Globally

46 min

Topics this week: Tampa Bay Rays sale; A Shoeless Joe's Hall of Fame promotion; The All-Star Game; The USA vs. The World; Late Night TV is in trouble; BananaBall may entertain some, but it isn't baseball; Manfred wants a salary cap; MLB's tickets are overpriced for a reason; an Ozzy Osbourne post-mortum; making money while making music. Errata:  A Houston business consortium was bidding to buy the St. Louis Cardinals in the early 1950's, not the St. Louis Browns. The National League, not the American League had the early 6-run lead in the 2025 All-Star game.  Episodes Mentioned: Ep. 251, "Talking Talking Heads w/ Jonathan Gould." Please consider supporting Hooks & Runs by purchasing books, including those featured in this episode (if any were), through our store at Bookshop.org. Here's the link. https://bookshop.org/shop/hooksandruns Hooks & Runs - https://hooksandruns.buzzsprout.com Email: hooksandruns@protonmail.com Craig on Bluesky (@craigest.bsky.social) Rex (Krazy Karl's Music Emporium) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Krazy-Karlz-Music-Emporium/100063801500293/ Hosts Emeriti: Andrew Eckhoff on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hofffest Eric on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ichaboderic/ Music: "Warrior of Light" by ikolics (via Premium Beat)    www.premiumbeat.com/artist/ikoliks This podcast and this episode are copyright Craig Estlinbaum, 2025.  

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